Big Changes Planned For Stadium

Updated:
Monday, November 12, 2007 11:08 AM EST

Last Saturday, University of Tulsa fans experienced what may have been the final game at Chapman Stadium as they know it. The old stadium will undergo an extensive renovation at the end of the season. The News On 6â€™s Chris Wright reports there is still a chance the Golden Hurricane will host the Conference USA Championship, but if Saturdayâ€™s game was the final home game of the season on Skelly Field; fans were treated to a fitting send-off with a 56-7 win over Houston.

Once the season is over, the 77-year-old facility will get a major facelift. The $25 million renovation will mean a new scoreboard, new seats, a press box, and the addition of 20 luxury suites. The stadium's capacity will also be decreased.

Skelly Field at Chapman Stadium currently holds 37,000 people. Once the construction is finished, it will only seat 30,000 fans. TU officials say the renovation has been a long time coming.

"We're going to bring the stadium up to today's standard facilities, with suites, renewed concessions, new restrooms. Those will be some of the changes people will notice,â€ said Terry Hossack with the University of Tulsa.

Fans who gathered outside Skelly on Saturday for one last tailgate say while they are nostalgic about the old stadium, they welcome the changes.

"I think it's the right move for the university and the program. And, we're all really exicted about it, get behind it,â€ said Perry Gowdy who has held season tickets since 1983.

The color of the stadium seating will also be changed. The familiar yellow and blue will be altered to a TU tan.